Game apparatus



Patented Jan. 31, 1928.

BENJAMIN A. POST, OF OYSTER BAY, NEW YORK.

GAME APPARATUS.

This invention relates to games of the nature embodying a shallow boxand game pieces movable over the bottom of the box by shaking orotherwise manipulating the box.

In the present instance the bottom of the box is divided into spaceswhich are separated by intersecting ridges, said spaces bearingindications, such as the names of the teams of the American and Nationalbase ball leagues. The game pieces consist of two sets, one set beingselective to determine the teams to be represented by each of theplayers and the order of play of the tennis. The other set indicates thenumber of points or runs to be counted for the player by the teams intheir order of play. The selecting set of game pieces are of contrastingcolor, the colors determining the order in which the teams play. Thecount ing game pieces are of one color and of a smaller size than theselecting game pieces. The shape of the game pieces is immaterial, butit is preferred that they consist of balls so as to move easily over theplaying surface, or bottom of the box.

Vi hile the drawings illustrate a preferred endaodiment of theinvention, it is to be understood that in adapting the means to meetspecific needs and requirements, the design may be varied and such otherchanges in the minor details of construction may be resorted to withinthe scope of the invention as claimed, without departing from the spiritthereof.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof,reference is to be had to the following description and the drawinghereto attacl'ied, in which,

Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional view of a game device entibodying theinvention on the line 11. of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view on the line 2 2 of Figure 1,looking in the direction of the arrows.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and desig nated in both views of the drawing:

The numeral 1 designates a base or board ttfil'ltttllllllg' the playingsurface which 1s subdivided into spaces 2 which are preferably of squareoutline and separated by means of intersecting ridges 3 which aredisposed to cross one another, and as a result the playing surfaceembodies shallow depressions or Application filed September 14, 1927.Serial No. 219,500.

pockets. The pockets or spaces are supplied with designations which in.the present instance consist of the names of the several teamscomprising the American and National base ball leagues.

For convenience the spaces or pockets are consecutively nun'ibered from1 to 16, both inclusive for ready determination of the spaces and thenames of the teams associated therewith. A rim l; projects upwardly fromthe outer edges of the base or board 1, so as to confine the game piecesand prevent loss or misplaccment thereof. The shallow box thus formed isclosed at the top by a transparent cover 5 of mica, celluloid, glass orother determinate material. .A. rim 6 secured to the sides of the boxserves to retain the cover 5 in place. The rim and cover may beremovable if desired to admit of access to the interior of the box forany purpose. W'hile the ridges 3 may be provided in any manner theyusually consist of strings which are stretched across the base and gluedor otherwiseadhesively secured thereto. These ridges define the spacesand form the pockets.

There are two sets of game pieces which are designated by the numerals 7and 8 respectively. The game pieces 7 are of contrasting colors and aresix in number, there being one of each of the colors, red, orange,yellow, green, blue and violet. These game pieces 7 select the teams foreach of the players and determine the order in which the teams play. Inplaying the game a player shakes or manipulates the device, therebysetting the game pieces in motion, and when the game pieces cometo restone of each of the sets designated by the numeral. 7 should occupy aseparate space or pocket 2 and the names associated with the spaces orpockets thus occupied by the game pieces 7 determine the teams to berepresentecl by the player. The colors of the game pieces 7 determinethe order in which the teams thus selected play. It is observed thateach of the players shakes or otherwise manipulates the box in turn toselect the teams and their order of play. Each player jots down upon acard or sheet the names of the teams and their order of play. Asindicated in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing, the selecting set ofgame pieces 7 appears on the spaces 2, 4, 9, 11, 12 and 15, hence theplayer represents the Chicago,

lUU

lUiS

llU

New York, Washington, and St. Louis teams of the American NationalLeague, and the Boston and St. Louis teams of the National base ballleague. The teams thus selected play in the order designated by thecolors of the game pieces, and since the colors appear in the followingorder, name- 1y, red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet, the teamsselected play in this order, which as stated, is as follows: the NewYork American, the St. Louis National, the Boston National, the ChicagoAmerican. the St. Louis American, and the lVashington American.

There may be any number of game pieces comprising the set designated bythe numeral 8 and these game pieces determine the number of points orruns to be scored for the team in play. The New York American beingfirst inorder of play and after the box has been shaken or otherwisemanipulated and the game pieces have come to rest five of the gamepieces 8 appear on the space or in the pocket representing the New YorkAmerican team, thus five points or runs are scored. This procedureisfollowed in each consecutive play, the number of game pieces 8appearing in the space or pocket of the team in play being scoredor'counted for the player. The player scoring the greatest number ofruns or points at the end of six plays wins the game.

It is observed that the six game pieces 7 represent the siX playing daysof the week, hence each of the teams plays on a ditferent day in theorder designated by the colors of the game piecesT. The game pieces areof rounding form, such as balls, to facilitatetheir movement over theplaying surface and over the ridges 9 separating the spaces or pockets.The enclosed box form of the game is preferred as it prevents loss ordisplacement of the game pieces in the ordinary handling of the device.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A game device comprising a base having a playing surface divided intospaces and having designations imprinted upon the several spaces and twosets of game pieces movable over the surface of the base, the gamepieces of one set selecting the spaces for the player, and the gamepieces of the other set determining the points to be scored for thespace in play.

2. A game device comprising a base hav ing its playing surfacesubdivided into spaces which are provided with designations, and twosets of game pieces movable over said surface, the game pieces of oneset solecting the spaces for a player and determining the order of playof the selected spaces, and the game pieces of the other set determiningthe number of points to be scored by the space in play.

3. A game device con'iprising a base having its playing surfacesubdivided into spaces and having the spaces dill'erenlly designated,game pieces of contrasting color movable over the playing surface andadapted to select the spaces to be allotted to a player, the order ofplay being determined by the colors, and a second set or game piecespresenting a dillerent appearance l'rom the selecting game pieces andadapted to determine the number of points to be scored for the space inplay.

d. A game device comprising a base, intersecting ridges subdividing thepla \iug surface of the base into spaces or shallow pockets, each of thespaces being dill'eremly designated, and two sets ol' game pieces ofdiil'erent size, the larger game pieces being of contrasting color toselect the spaces or pockets and to determine their order ol' play, andthe smaller game pieces detervaluing the points to be scored by theplayer of the space in play.

A game device cou'iprising a shallow box provided with a transparentcover and having its bottom provided with intersect ing ridges to form.a playing surface sub divided into spaces upon whicl appear the namesof the teams comprising the American and National base ball leagues, andsaid spaces being constaaitively numbered. and two sets o'l game pieces.the game pieces of one set serving to selcctlhe teams ol' a player, andbeing of contrasting color lo determine the order of play ol the teams.and the other set of game pieces determining the number ol points to hescored for the team in play.

In testin'lony whereol' l allix my signature.

l-RENJAM IN A. POST.

